A large real-world study across the U.S. Veterans Health Administration found that making AI-powered computer-aided detection (CADe) available during colonoscopy significantly increased adenoma detection rates, addressing concerns that the technology’s benefits seen in clinical trials may not translate to routine practice.
Across more than 330,000 colonoscopies, facilities equipped with CADe experienced a meaningful improvement in adenoma detection compared with control sites, while detection of other lesions and procedure withdrawal times remained unchanged. The findings suggest that AI can enhance colonoscopy quality in everyday clinical settings, although researchers note that its long-term impact on colorectal cancer outcomes and the potential risk of endoscopist overreliance or deskilling still require further study.